Soccer Balls Are Not All The Same

Upon first notice, one soccer ball looks no different than another except for the design on the ball.  Kick one around, however, and the differences in balls becomes clear.  Among all of our staff, we must have used just about every brand and quality level soccer ball in our lives.  We have also looked at a lot of websites and purchased soccer balls online.

Most modern soccer balls are stitched from 32 panels of waterproofed leather or plastic pigskin, 12 regular pentagons and 20 regular hexagons. The 32-panel configuration is similar to the polyhedron known as the truncated icosahedron, except that it is more spherical, because the faces bulge due to the pressure of the air inside. The first 32-panel ball was marketed by Select in the 1950s in Denmark. This configuration became common throughout Continental Europe in the 1960s, and was publicised worldwide by the Adidas Telstar, the official ball of the 1970 World Cup.

The official FIFA World Cup football for Germany 2006 matches was the 14-panel Adidas +Teamgeist. It was made in Thailand by Adidas, who have provided the official match balls for the tournament since 1970, and is a "thermally bonded" machine-pressed ball, rather than a traditionally stitched one. For future world cups, FIFA is hoping to alternate between Nike and Adidas for match balls.

Another ball with an innovative pattern is the 26-panel Mitre PRO 100T.

There are also indoor footballs, which are made of one or two pieces of plastic. Often these have designs printed on them to resemble a stitched leather ball.

The quality of soccer balls available on the net varies greatly and one should take care when ordering online.  The reputation of the merchant is of paramount importance.  Well known websites like Soccer.com (Eurosport) , ShopAdidas.com, and other brand name sites offer the safest experience and offer a wide range of soccer balls to choose from.  There are several other soccer websites like SoccerEvolution.com and WorldSoccerShop.com that also offer quality balls and safe, easy ordering.  They're worth checking out.

We can highly recommend the four websites listed above for good quality soccer balls at very reasonable prices.  It is easy to order online from them and shipping costs are typical with special discounts.  Read the descriptions to see which soccer ball is best for the type of pitch and level that you play on.  Then it's all a matter of how much you want to spend.  If you want the lowdown on any particular type of ball, send us a note and we'll pass on some more information. Just click here.

Your Most Important Soccer Gear - Cleats

Since the feet take the greatest beating in a soccer game, the right shoes are of paramount importance.  When it comes to buying soccer cleats, this is no time to be a spend-thrift.  A good fitting pair of cleats are necessary for your feet's protection and your playing ability.  Your soccer shoes need to fit comfortably snug.

Soccer shoes are usually made of real leather or synthetic leather, with real leather providing the best feedback for the player.  Leather shoes tend to fit better and are often more durable. However, those advantages come with a higher price. Further, if you are playing on a wet, water logged field, a real leather shoe will absorb more moisture making it heavy and robbing it of its durability.

A great website that offers a good selection of all kinds of soccer shoes including brand names like Nike and Adidas is SoccerGarage.com.  You will find high quality leather cleats for every type of play and field condition.  It's easy to specify shoe size and their ordering online is quick and easy and secure.

A less expensive option is synthetic leather. Appropriate for beginning and intermediate players, synthetic leather offers an affordable recreational and youth soccer shoe. Further, synthetic leather offers greater water resistance and is ideal for play on wet fields.  You can find the synthetic leather cleats that will work best for you at Eurosport and SoccerPost.com, among others listed on this site.

The most important part of soccer shoes is the sole, where the cleats are. There are four types of soles on soccer shoes: molded cleats, detachable cleats, turf shoes, and indoor shoes. Molded cleats are the most basic and affordable design.  Molded cleats are part of the sole of the shoe and they are designed to be appropriate for a wide range of playing conditions.  Detachable cleats are similar to the molded cleats except that you can remove them. By unscrewing the cleats and replacing them with different types and lengths, more advanced players can create a shoe that is ideal for the playing conditions they may face in their game.

When you purchase your soccer shoes make sure to specify your correct shoe size and remember that they are designed to feel snug, particularly on the upper portion of the shoe. Remember that a leather shoe will stretch over time, so a shoe that feels snug at first may eventually stretch and mold to the exact shape of your foot making it like a part of you, and perfect for the game of soccer.

What To Look For In Soccer Jerseys and Uniforms

There are thousands of soccer jerseys, uniforms, and socks being sold on the internet with all kinds of designs and styles.  Whether it's a replica jersey with your favorite player's name and number on it or a uniform for your team, the most important consideration is the material that it is made from.  It needs to be comfortable and easy to care for and it must allow your body heat to dissipate.  Materials that are cotton or cotton-based are not ideal for soccer jerseys.  The absolute best material for playing soccer is polyester.

Soccer uniforms are not simply color-matched clothes for the team to wear while playing the game. These clothing items should be considered as important as the ball choice and the cleats, since a great deal of the player's ability to give an optimal performance will depend on how their body is reacting to either the heat or to a cold chill. The correct selection of the soccer uniform can enhance or detract from the team's overall performance, and therefore deserves appropriate attention.

There are several really good websites like SoccerEvolution.com and WorldSoccerShop.com that offer high-quality materials and workmanship.  You need to be wary of the many copycats online that profess to offer polyester, but it is of poor quality or alternate material of lesser quality.  Stick with online merchants with a track record like Eurosport.

Polyester shares the spotlight with no other fabric on the soccer field. It is lightweight, durable and breathable, and allows for very little color bleeding, if any. CoolMax, designed by Dupont, has taken the old stand by of polyester and created a hybrid, 4-channel spun fiber that wicks moisture quickly away from the body, and dries in an instant, leaving the player cool and comfortable even in the hottest game of the season. Now the old work horse, polyester, performs like a thoroughbred, making even the most inexperienced player look and feel like a champion.